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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: wax · perch · present · fan · suit · ruler · hand · row

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. perch — the fish
  3. suit — to fit
  4. row — to paddle
  5. present — a gift
  6. hand — help
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. hand — in cards
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. suit — in cards
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. present — there
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. wax — to grow
  21. row — a line
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. suit — clothes
  24. fan — a supporter

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com